Final days in Abaco and our return to the USA

Our final visitor this year in the Bahamas was my son Brian who arrived from New York on April 28th and spent a week with us. We hadn't taken him north of Great Guana Cay before so we decided to go around "the whale" and introduce him to Green Turtle Cay. All of the prime sailing areas in the Abacos are protected from ocean swells by a string of barrier islands and reefs. The exception is Whale Cay which has a large shallow sandbar inside of it and requires passage out into the Atlantic Ocean which is best to travel in settled weather. Fortunately we had exactly that. We took a slip at the Bluff House Marina in White Sound on Green Turtle Cay and discovered that a fishing tournament was in progress. The fishermen in the next slip were hooting & howling after a great day including very colorful language. They quickly apologized after seeing a woman nearby (me!) and offered us a yellowfin tuna, which we gladly accepted and gave it to the chef in the marina restaurant to cook up for us. It came out in a variety of ways and was preceded by tuna appetizers. It was all very tasty! 

Jeff cleaning the tuna

We stayed two days, and had a great time listening to the Gully Roosters play, an added bonus because of the tournament. The beach was a great place to hang out during the day, so Brian and I walked the shoreline and found a few shells while Jeff worked on our generator which had quit working just before Brian arrived. Fortunately, Brian was able to secure the part we needed and brought it with him. 

Pathway to the beach from the marina

Brian checking out a coconut

We left the following day to visit the Abaco swimming pigs for the first time. We have previously seen the swimming pigs in Exuma. No Name Cay offers quite the pig extravaganza. There were pigs of all sizes and chickens sharing their island. The locals have constructed a water tank with nozzles similar to a hamster water bottle for the pigs to be certain they have drinking water. As we were coming ashore, I saw someone hold some food out for one of the pigs, told him/her to sit and the pig, in fact, sat. I guess someone is attempting to train them. 

Please Brian, a tidbit for me?

Piggyville

Newest additions

Mom & her piglets

After our visit at No Name, we were back onboard and on our way back south around the whale. It was a little choppier due to stronger winds but fine to traverse. Three hours later, we were back in the sea of Abaco and secure in a slip at Orchid Bay. It's nice to have the luxury of getting off the boat whenever we care to and walk beaches, etc. Air conditioning is also a wonderful luxury. It was beginning to become quite warm for sleeping.

Next stop, Hope Town where we took a slip at the Hope Town Inn & Marina again. We love it there and know that guests will too. It's also a great place to end a week prior to hopping the ferry to the airport on Marsh Harbor. Brian's favorite place for lunch in Hope Town is On Da Beach where they serve the absolute best fish melt sandwich anywhere. In fact, we ate there twice. We climbed the lighthouse to show Brian the improvements since last year which are remarkable. Jeff had some new air grate knobs manufactured by an acquaintance, Nat Bradshaw, in Maine to replace the broken and missing ones and installed them while we were there. I continued volunteering in the lighthouse gift shop to sell souvenirs to "keep the light on". It's a continuing work in progress and we thoroughly enjoy helping.  

Brian, at the top of the lighthouse

We had planned on going to Little Harbour again to visit Pete's Pub and the Gallery but we were running out of time! Our friends Matt and Julie on Sea Bum, who reside in Vermont, suggested we all go to Little Harbour on their smaller runabout which is exactly what we did. The quicker ride was enjoyable, the food was great, and the company even better. When we were leaving, Charlie the heron flew in as he does on a regular basis, to say hello. Friends there are certain it is their old friend who passed recently coming back to see them. This heron began frequenting Pete's dock shortly thereafter.

Charlie

Happy to be at On Da Beach again!

The reefs (dark patches in the water) we snorkeled in Hope Town

And just like that, the week was over. Beaches, reefs, long walks, crystal clear water, incredible conch salad and other Bahamian favorites, swimming pigs, rays, turtles and fish. What an amazing time. Brian and I took the ferry together to Marsh Harbour and a taxi to the airport and spent the last of our time together there. The airport is quite small and walking through security takes no more than 5 or 10 minutes. Such a relaxed pace, one we continue to enjoy over and over.

Brian taking off. Sniff, sniff.

Back in Hope Town that evening and we enjoyed a beautiful sunset, then stayed one more day before saying goodbye until next year. We began our journey north to Powell Cay where we had the anchorage to ourselves and enjoyed steaks on the grill and a beautiful quiet night.

Hope Town Lighthouse

Sunset at Powell Cay

 In the morning, we left Powell Cay and set our waypoint for Triangle Rocks, just south of Walker's Cay. It was a delightful sail and a perfect place to drop the anchor for the night before we began our cross back to Florida. The weather was predicted to be perfect for an overnight sail.

At 6:30am on May 9th we left Triangle Rocks and motor-sailed across a calm sea with hardly another vessel in sight. It was gorgeous. Later that afternoon we had a visitor who needed to rest some weary wings. This has happened in previous years and it still amazes me what a tiny bird is doing half way between the Abacos and Florida. He/she spent about 40 minutes with us, exploring various part of the cockpit and dinghy but never went down below as has happened in the past. This one even left once, and decided to come right back again for a bit. We supplied water, which was obviously greatly appreciated and bid our farewell for a safe journey back to Abaco upon departure. Safe flying my little friend!

Surprise, surprise! When did you light?

Getting behind the dodger for a less windy ride

Are you sure you're going the right way?

Full moon overnight helps light the way

We were back in St. Augustine at Camachee Cove at 1:15 the next day, 31 hours after we left Triangle Rocks.

Our friends Craig and Judith came up for a week from Gainesville and rented a condo nearby. They have a runabout that we went out on one day and they came for a sail another. Always a good time with them!

Craig, Judith and Bodie

Judith trying to coax Bodie into the water at Matanzas Inlet. Swimming is not his favorite sport!

Bodie relaxing after an exhausting day on the beach

You can tell we're back in St. Augustine!

My daughter Becky and our granddaughter Brooke came for a visit at the marina. We went out for a sail and it's quite obvious that sailing is in this kid's genes! 

Pop and Brooke looking for fishies

And that's it!  After the usual doctor appointments and visits with kids and friends, we'll be headed north again to enjoy the cool temps in Maine and lots of lobster! We aren't taking the boat all the way this year, but will leave her in North Carolina in order to spend some time in CT with family and more time in Stonington. After all, it's a 30 day trip up and another 30 back. That's two months! This year I'd like to plant another vegetable garden and have longer to visit with our friends there. Look out Maniacs, here we come!